Dhaka – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday warned of stern actions against anomalies in distribution of low-cost food aid that she launched for the ultra-poor section of people last month.

She also asked all elected representatives to ensure fair distribution of the rice as allegations were raised that a section was trying to manipulate the distribution process.

The Prime Minister also instructed the lawmakers and the public servants to recheck the list of people being prepared by the local government representatives.

“Please ensure that the support goes to the actual poor,” Hasina said in parliament while replying to a question during the weekly question-answer session for the Prime Minister.

The low-cost rice is for the ultra-poor. It’s not for solvent families, said the Prime Minister adding that the dealership would be cancelled if any person is found deviating from the guidelines.

Necessary actions will be taken against the elected representatives if they are found guilty, Hasina warned.

The government launched the food-aid programme on September 7 across Bangladesh. A card-holder, under the scheme, will receive a kilogram of rice at Tk 10 for five months in a year.

The marginalized groups of people most of whom live on farm labour pass through difficulty during the months of March and April in the first half of the year while they face the similar situation in the months of September, October and November.

Considering agonies of the poorer section of the people, the government launched the programme titled “Sheikh Hasinar Bangladesh, Khudha Hobe Niruddesh” under which some 5 million people will be given the low-price rice supply.

The Prime Minister began distribution of the low-price rice distribution in northern district of Kurigram, where a major section of rural people used to live in abject poverty, on September 7.

The government will distribute rice as long as the poor people will require, said Hasina in parliament adding that the government has sufficient stock to supply food to the poor.